West Virginia Sex Offenders

West Virginia’s Sex offender law
mandates convicted sex offenders to register in the state. The law
protects residents of the state by giving them access to information
on registered sex offenders in West Virginia.

Convicted sex offenders in West
Virginia must register with the local police in their county upon
release from jail, parole or probation.

The state police notify residents
whenever a sex offender moves into their neighborhood. Thus, the
residents take precautionary measures to protect themselves and their
kids from such persons.

West Virginia law does not restrict
sex offenders from living or working anywhere. Except there is a
special court order asking them to do so.

West Virginia Sex Offender Registry

West Virginia
State Police controls the state’s sex offenders registry. The
registry manages all information on sex offenders in West Virginia.
The registry verifies this information and ensures accuracy.

Residents of West Virginia can
access this information through the registry’s official website.
The information on the registry’s website gets daily update.

The registry does not guarantee that
information on the website will always be accurate. Some offenders
may change their details without informing the authorities.

Any person who has been
convicted of a criminal offense and the sentencing judge made a
written finding that the offense was sexually motivated must also
register.

Whether or not specifically stated,
it is an element of every sexual offense that the sexual act was
committed without the consent of the victim.

Information maintained in West Virginia Sex Offender Registry

W. VA. CODE § 15-12-2 (West 2008)

(d)

The full name of the
registrant, including any aliases, nicknames or other names used by
the registrant;

The address where the
registrant intends to reside or resides at the time of registration,
the address of any habitable real property owned or leased by the
registrant that he or she regularly visits:

The registrant's social
security number;

A full-face photograph of the
registrant at the time of registration;

A brief description of the
crime or crimes for which the registrant was convicted;

Fingerprints;

Information related to any
motor vehicle, trailer or motor home owned or regularly operated by
a registrant, including vehicle makes, model, color and license
plate number:

Information relating to any
Internet accounts the registrant has and the screen names, user
names or aliases the registrant uses on the internet; and

Information related to any
telephone or electronic paging device numbers that the registrant
has or uses, including, but not limited to, residential, work and
mobile telephone numbers

(e)(2)

(A) His or her sex;

(B) His or her age at the time of
the offense; and

(C) The relationship between the
victim and the perpetrator.

(f) For any person determined to be
a sexually violent predator, the notice required by subsection (d) of
this section must also include:

(1) Identifying factors, including
physical characteristics; (2) History of the offense; and (3)
Documentation of any treatment received for the mental abnormality or
personality disorder.

Community Notification and Websites

W. VA. CODE § 15-12-2 (West 2008)

(h) The State Police shall maintain
a central registry of all persons who register under this article and
shall release information only as provided in this article. The
information required to be made public by the State Police by
subdivision (2), subsection (b), section five of this article is to
be accessible through the Internet. No information relating to
telephone or electronic paging device numbers a registrant has or
uses may be released through the Internet.

W. VA. CODE § 15-12-5 (West 2008)

(a) Within five business days after
receiving any notification as described in this article, the State
Police shall distribute a copy of the notification statement to:

(1) The supervisor of each county
and municipal law-enforcement office and any campus police department
in the city and county where the registrant resides owns or leases
habitable real property that he or she regularly visits, is employed
or attends school or a training facility;

(2) The county superintendent of
schools in each county where the registrant resides owns or leases
habitable real property that he or she regularly visits, is employed
or attends school or a training facility;

(3) The child protective services
office charged with investigating allegations of child abuse or
neglect in the county where the registrant resides owns or leases
habitable real property that he or she regularly visits, is employed
or attends school or a training facility;

(4) All community organizations or
religious organizations which regularly provide services to youths in
the county where the registrant resides owns or leases habitable real
property that he or she regularly visits, is employed or attends
school or a training facility;

(5) Individuals and organizations
which provide day care services for youths or daycare, residential or
respite care, or other supportive services for mentally or physically
incapacitated or infirm persons in the county where the registrant
resides, owns or leases habitable real property that he or she
regularly visits, is employed or attends school or a training
facility; and

(6) The Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI).

(b)(2) The State Police shall
maintain and make available to the public at least quarterly the list
of all persons who are required to register for life according to the
terms of subdivision (2), subsection (a), section four of this
article.

No information concerning the
identity of a victim of an offense requiring registration or
telephone or electronic paging device numbers a registrant has or
uses may be released with this list. The method of publication and
access to this list are to be determined by the superintendent;

Limitations
on Residency or Employment

None

Duration
of Registration

W. VA. CODE § 15-12-4 (West 2008)

(a)(1) 10 years for persons not
subject to lifetime registration.

(a)(2) Life for persons:

With 1 or more prior
convictions for a registrable offense;

Convicted of a registrable
offense against multiple victims or multiple violations of the same
offense;

That has been deemed sexually
violent predators;

Convicted of a sexually violent
offense; or

Convicted of a registrable
offense against a minor.

Timeframe
for Registration

Immediately upon
release; 30 days of moving into the state; 10 days of changing the
address

Does a Sex Offender Live Near Your Family?

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Encouraging Children to Share

It isn't always easy to build a trusting relationship with your child. Trying to get your children to share what is going on in their lives can be difficult.

Building an open and welcoming environment from the beginning stages of a child's life is essential. Children are less intimidated and more likely to discuss issues and topics in their lives with an open and supportive environment.

Getting your kids to share serves as a building block for times when your child needs to discuss pressing issues like sex and sexual abuse.

Free Parental eBook

KidsLiveSafe put together a comprehensive parents guide about sexual predators and keeping children safe. This free online eBook includes vital statistics, how to tell if a predator is victimizing a child, and social media and cyber-bullying.